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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Integrating Teaching and Research in Undergraduate Biology Laboratory Education

"The dilemma is well known. Scientists at research-focused universities must precariously balance a research agenda while also contributing to the education of undergraduate students. An imbalance exists at many universities where more time, resources, and prestige are devoted to research at the expense of teaching future generations of scientists and scientifically literate citizens. Indeed, the term “teaching load” suggests that teaching is a burden that diverts time and energy away from productive scholarship. However, this view inaccurately presents teaching and research as a zero-sum game when, in reality, well-designed curricula can benefit both activities. In this article, we provide practical suggestions for implementing such curricula and describe a recently designed course as an example of how they can be applied."